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UNDERAGE DRINKING
*Provided by the Law Offices of David M. Manilla, Esquire
- (610) 584-0364
In Pennsylvania, it is illegal for anyone
under the age of 21 to drink alcohol and for anyone over
the age of 21 to provide alcohol to a minor. The penalty
for underage drinking is a fine of up to $500.00 and driver's
license suspension. The minimum fine for a first offense
of providing alcohol to minors is $1,000.00.
One of the reasons underage drinking is such
a problem is that it leads to other crimes that hurt innocent
people, such as impaired driving, assault, vandalism and
disorderly behavior. Preventing underage drinking can save
lives by stopping risky behavior that goes along with minors
drinking.
FAQS
The American Public Health Association estimates
that two-thirds of high school seniors consume alcohol,
with one-third of those being binge drinkers. It also is
estimated that two-thirds of those under 21 buy their own
alcohol.
More teens die from alcohol overdoses or drunk
driving crashes than from all other causes combined. A high
proportion of teen suicides, suicides, homicides, assaults,
drowning and recreational deaths and injuries involve alcohol.
There is considerable evidence that those
who drink at a younger age are more likely to develop addiction
or drinking problems later. Young people who began drinking
before age 15 were four times more likely to develop alcohol
dependence than those who began drinking at age 21.
The average age when kids say they first tried
alcohol is 12.8. That's sixth or seventh grade.
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